Health officials have warned of a 'national measles incident' after a five-fold rise in cases this year compared to last - here's where most of the measles cases have been confirmed since January 1

As a result, Public Health England has urged all parents to ensure their little ones are vaccinated, and told young people travelling to Europe - where there have been outbreaks - to get protected.

Statistics show 738 cases of measles confirmed up to July 2 this year - that's compared to 274 kids diagnosed in 2017.

In an article published in the British Journal of General Practice, Dr Maliha Moten, from Public Health England's West Midlands Health Protection Team, said the disease still poses a threat in this country.

She wrote: "Measles remains a threat to the UK population. Recent outbreaks have highlighted its ongoing threat."

Public Health England warned young adults are at risk, after many missed their MMR jabs in the late 90s, early 2000s

There have been 48 measles deaths reported in the EU since 2016 and take up of the jab is typically low in countries including Romania, France, Greece and Italy.

Public Health England has called on young adults and teens planning to go abroad over the summer to check they are vaccinated.

The age group is vulnerable as take up of the MMR jab fell heavily in the late 1990s following research by Andrew Wakefield which suggested a link between the vaccine and autism.

However, his work was discredited and he was struck off the medical register in 2010.

Numbers having the jab also dipped to a low of 80 per cent in 2003.

WHAT IS MEASLES? HOW TO SPOT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can be very unpleasant and sometimes lead to serious complications.

It's now uncommon in the UK because of the effectiveness of vaccination.

Anyone can get measles if they haven't been vaccinated or they haven't had it before.

It usually clears in 7 to 10 days but can lead to other serious complications.

Symptoms:

Initial symptoms include:

cold-like symptoms like runny nose, sneezing and a cough

sore, red eyes

fever

small grey-white spots on the inside of the cheeks

aches and pains

A few days later a red-brown, blotchy rash will appear, usually beginning on the head or upper neck before spreading.

You'll most likely feel most ill the first few days the rash appears.

Complications:

About one in every 5,000 people will die from measles.

Complications are more likely to develop in:

babies younger than a year old

children with a poor diet

children with a weakened immune system

The most common complications include diarrhoea and vomiting, ear infections, eye infection, pneumonia and bronchitis.

But measles can also lead to other complications, although these are rare:

hepatitis

brain infections

eye problems and vision loss

heart and nervous system problems

miscarriage or still birth

premature birth

low birth weight

Treatment:

There is no specific treatment.

Your GP will probably suggest resting at home and waiting for it to clear.

You can ease your symptoms with pain killers, but always speak to your GP first.

You can avoid measles by getting vaccinated.

One dose of vaccine can be given to a baby when they are 12-13 months old and a second before they start school.

Countries where vaccination levels are higher have less chance of the disease spreading.

Source: NHS Choices

Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at Public Health England, said: "In the early 2000s there was a fall in MMR vaccination coverage in children and as a consequence, we are now seeing measles cases in young adults.

"Measles can be more serious in adults with a higher likelihood of hospitalisation and complications arising.

"Measles is circulating in England and the rest of Europe.

"We often think about what travel-related vaccines we might need before going on holiday, but it's also important to check that we are up to date with routine vaccinations like MMR.

"If you are unsure if you have had two doses of MMR call your GP practice to check and catch up if needed."

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Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chair of the Royal College of GPs, added: "This is so disheartening when we consider how close we came to completely eradicating this unpleasant infectious illness and achieving medicine’s ultimate goal of confining this awful disease to the history books.

“Unfortunately, we had major setbacks in the 1990s when false claims about the MMR vaccine caused panic which led to a significant drop in the numbers of parents allowing their children to be immunised, and the latest figures would appear to indicate that we are still feeling the impact.

"We ask all parents to do the right thing, including when returning from abroad, and have their children so that we stand the best chance of permanently eradicating measles in the future.”